Typographical machine.



R. 0. BOARDMAN.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. 1915.

Patented 1511. 16,1917.

- at the keyboard EQBET 9. BOABDMAN, 01E GRANDBAPIIDS,

MICEIG-Alfl', ASSIGNOE T0 .5 v 1 P112.

LINOTYPE comm, A COEPGEATION on ETEW YQBK.

Application filed Kay 17,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Romans: 5}. BOARDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typographica-l Machines, of which the following is a specificat on, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to' typographical composing machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States No. 436,532, to' O. Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine or magazines in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter elevated and returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazine or magazines from which they started. These machines are frequently equipped with a so-called font-distinguisher, which is located in advance of the V distributing mechanism and serves to prevent the delivery thereto of matrices of improper form or font, that is, matrices of a form or font difierent from that contained in the particular magazine in use. ()rdinarilythe matrices are formed in their lower ends with notches, which are difierently positioned in the respectivefonts, so that only those of a certain iont, or rather those having notches in a given location, can pass the font-distinguisher, while those or other forms or fonts are arrested thereby. in the use of such font-distinguishers, when an im. proper matrix is arrested thereby, the operator is ordinarily compelled to leave his seat and pass to the rear of the machine, and there remove the matrix by hand. This is not only vexatious, but requires considerable time and inconvenience. Moreover, failure to remove the attending matrix at the proper time may lead to other diihcultiesltis the principal aim of my invention, therefore, to avoid these objections and to provide means whereby an improper matrix will be removed fromthe machine automatiy, and Without int rr pting the opersoeeincatien of Letters Eatent.

Patented J3EE in, that.

1915. Serial No. 28,521.

ation of the machine, and without requiring any attention on the part of the operator. lhe manner in which this object and others are carried out will appear from the detailed description to follow and finally he pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 have shown my improvement in preferred form and by way of example, and as applied to a linotype machine of the usual construct1on, but obviously it is capable of broader application, and may be embodied in other forms and applied to other styles of typographical macbines, such for instance as type setters and the like, and still he comprised within the spirit of my invention.

Generally speaking, I desire it to he understood that I do not limitmyseli to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as suchlimitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure l is a rear view of a portion of the distributing mechanism, showing my invention applied thereto; Figs. 2 and 3 are somewhat similar views showing the parts in difierent stages of operation; Fig. l is a section on the line of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detail.

After the casting operation, the composed line of matrices X is transported to the distributor box A and advanced progressively therethrough by the transfer device or pusher B toward the lifting linger B, which detaches the matrices from the line, one at a time, and delivers them to the conveying screws G which in turn carry them along the supporting rails 5. onto the ribbed distributor bar C, whereby they are returned to their proper channels in the magazine.

Referring to Fig. 4, it he noted that the matrices X are formed in their lower ends with notches X which are located in difierent positions in unlike fonts, as "well understood by those skilled in the art. lirranged in advance of the is the font-dislfinguisher E, the latter being adjustable laterally so as to register with the notches X in the matrices of the font in use. The distinguisher E is fixed to a spindle E slidably arranged in a sleeve E supported in the distributor hon, the sleeve having an elongated slot E through which the distlnguisher E projects and by which it is guided in its lateral adjustments. The setting of the distinguisher may he accomdistributer bar C 4 plished in any desired manner, either man-v ually or automatically. As shown in Fig. 4, it is effected automatically by an arm E which shifts it in one direction against the action of a spring E tending to move it in the opposite direction. The arm E is controlled by the movement of the magazines in the manner shown and described in U. S- Letters Patent 1,080,348, to D. S. Kennedy, so that further description herein will be unnecessary.

The parts so far described, except as hereinafter specified, are or may be of the usual construction, or such as shown and described in the Kennedy patent just mentioned.

As previously stated, one of the chief objects of my invention is to provide automatic means for removing from the machine a matrix of improper form or font detected in the composed line by the distinguisher E. To this end, the rails A are formed at their upper edges with notches A so that the matrices after their detachment from the line, instead of being guided onto the distributer bar C, will be allowed to drop to a lower level if not otherwise supported. In the normal operation of the machine, the matrices are prevented from dropping into the notches by a bridge F, underlying the rails A and formed at its upper end with tracks F which guide the matrices by their lower ends 'onto the distributer bar. bridge is supported in the distributer box so as to be movable vertically into and out of operative position, it being provided at its opposite edges with tongues F slidably engaging in slots A in the framework of the x box. The bridge is held in its upper or operative position by means of a catch or latch E fixed to the sleeve E and engaging beneath a transverse shoulder F on the bridge. In this connection, it is pointed out that the sleeve E wherein the font-distinguisher E is arranged, is rotatably mounted in the distributer box, so that when the distinguisher is engaged by an improper matrix, the sleeve will be rotated and the catch E thus disengaged from the shoulder F permitting the bridge F to drop to its lower or inoperative position. As a result, when the offending matrix is moved along the rails A by the screws 6, it is given no support by the bridge, and consequently drops into the notches A formed in the rails, so that it fails to engage the distributer bar C and is carried along the rails A and dropped from the end thereof out of the machine, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

After the passage of the offending matrix, the font-distinguisher E and the con nected parts are restored to their original positions by the spring E, before alluded to, it being noted that the spring is of the torsional variety, having one of its ends connected to the spindle E to which the The distinguisher is fixed, and'its other end connected to the framework. In order to restore the bridge to operative position, it is provided at its lower end with a second shoulder F which when the bridge is in its lower position will be engaged by a shoulder D formed on the lifting finger I), so that as the latter is elevated 'to detach a matrix from the line, it will raise the bridge F to its upper position, when the latch E will snap automatically beneath the shoulder F 2 and hold the bridge in such position. The parts will remain in this condition until another improper matrix is detected by the distinguisher E, when the same operation is repeated.

In order to allow suflicient time for an improper matrix to be removed -from the machine and for the subsequent restoration of the parts to their normal position, means are also provided whereby the lifting finger D will beheld temporarily out of action immediately upon detection of an improper matrix. In the present instance, the latch E is employed to secure this result, it being so arranged that when it is swung out of, engagement with the shoulder F of the bridge F by the font-distinguisher E, due to the presence of a foreign matrix detached from the line, its outer end will be located above a shoulder D on the lifting finger, as seen in Fig. 2, it being understood of course that the parts are so related that the lifting finger will stand in its lowermost position at this time. It follows therefore that the'lifting finger will be arrested in its next reciprocation, as seen in Fig. 3, without interrupting the operation of the distributing mechanism, that no matrix will be disengaged from the line during this cycle of operation. After the rejected matrix has passed the distinguisher E, its spring E will return it and the connected latch E to their original positions, as before explained, so that the finger D in its following reciprocation will be allowed to detach a matrix from the com posed line and restore the bridge F to its operative position.

The operation of the parts will now be clear. Under normal conditions, the bridge F stands in its upper position as shown in Fig. 1, being supported therein by the latch E", which is connected to the font-distinguisher E. When an improper matrix irrespective of its thickness finds its way into the machine, and after being detached from the line by the lifting finger D, it engages the font-distinguisher E and rotates the sleeve E to disengage the latch E from the bridge, allowing the latter to drop to its lower position, as shown in Fig. 2. At the same time, the latch is located above the shoulder D on the lifting finger, standing in its depressed position at the time, and the upward movement thereof is arrested, as shown it Fig. 3;

, therewith naiaeea The distributer screws, however,

continue to rotate and carry the improper -matrix along the rails A, but since the bridge F is now in its lower or inoperative position, the matrix drops into the notches A. out of engagin relation with the distributer bar 0, and is finally carried off the end of the rails out of the machine, as shown by dotted linesin Fig. 3. As the distributer screws complete their cycle of operation, the lifting finger is slightly depressed and resumes its initial position, as shown in Fig. 2, when its pressure upon the latch E is relieved and the latter disengaged from the finger by the spring E. The distributer screws now begin their next cycle of operation, and the lifting'fingerbein-g free from the latch rises to detach a matrix from the line and carries with it the bridge to restore it to its upper or operative position, where it is again held by the latch.

As previously stated, I have shown my invention merely in preferred form and by way of example, and it will be obvious that many variations and modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departure from its scope.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a typographical machine capable of handling type or matrices of variant fonts, the combination of a group or line.

e or matrices, means cooperating to detect the presence therein of a type or matrix of improper font, and matrix removing means actuated by said font detecting means for conducting the improper type or matrix from the machine.

2. In a typographical machine, the combination of a movable font-distinguisher, and matrix-removing means controlled thereby for conducting a type or matrix from the machine.

3. In a-typographical machine, the combination of a font-distinguisher adjustable to difl'erent operative positions to correspond to type or matrices of different fonts, and matrix-removing means controlled by the font-distinguisher in any of its different positions for conducting a type or matrix from the machine.

a. In a typographical machine, the combination of distributing mechanism, means serving when active to control the delivery of type or matrices thereto and when inactive to permit their automatic removal from the machine, and means actuated by an improper type or matrix to render said controlling means inactive.-

5. In a typographical machine, the combination of distributing mechanism, means serving when active to control the delivery of type r mat i es thereto and wh n inac of typ tive to permit their automatic removal from the machine, and a movable font distin guisher to govern the action of said means.

means for holding the controlling device in its operative positlon, the said means adapted to be tripped by an improper type or matrix.

7. In a typographical machine, the combln'ation of dlstributing mechanism, a device to control the delivery of type or matrices thereto, and movable vertically from operatlve position to prevent such delivery, means for holding the controllin device in its operative position, and a out-distinguisher for tripping said holding means.

8. In a typographical machine, the combination of distributing mechanism, a device to control the delivery of type or matrices thereto and movable to operative and inoperative position, means whereby an improper type or matrix effects the movement of said controlling device to inoperative position, and automatic mechanism for subseqnently restoring the device to operative position.

9. In a typographical machine, the combination of distributing mechanism, means serving when active to control the delivery of type or matrices thereto and when inactive to permit their automatic removal from the machine, means actuated by an improper type or matrix to render said controlling means inactive, and automatic mecha- "nism for subsequently rendering the controlling means active.

10. In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or mat-- rices, distributing mechanism, a reciprocating member to detach the type or matrices individually from the group or line, a device to control the delivery of the detached type or matrices to the distributing mechanism and movable from operative position to prevent such delivery, means whereby an improper type or matrix effects the aforesaid movement of the controlling device, and means whereby the detaching member rcstores the device to operative position.

11. In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or matrices, distributing mechanism, a reciprocating member to detach the type or matrices individually from the line for delivery to the distributing mechanism, a font-distinguisher, and meanswhereby the font-distinguisher arrests the reciprocating member in its detaching movement without interrupting the operation of the distributing mechanism.

12. In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or matrices, distributing mechanism, a reciprocating member to detach the type or matrices individually from the line for del1very to the distributing mechanism, a font-dlstmguisher, and means whereby the font-distinguisher may render said detaching member momentarily inactive without interrupting the operation of the distributing mechanism. 13. In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or matrices, distributlng mechanism, a reciprocating member to detach the type or matrices individually from the line, means to control the delivery of the type or matrices to the distributing mechanism after their detachment from the line, and means actuated by an improper type or matrix to render said detaching member and controlling means momentarily inactive, for the purpose de-.

scribed.

14. In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or matrices, distributing mechanism, a reciprocating member to detach the type or matrices individually from the line, means to control the delivery of the type or matrices to the distributing mechanism after their detachment from the line, means actuated by an improper type or matrix to render said detaching member and controlling means momentarily inactive, and automatic mechanism for subsequently rendering them active, for the purpose described.

15. In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or matrices, a reciprocating member to detach them of the detached type or matrices thereto, and

means controlled by an improper type or matrix for effectingthe movement of the controlling device to inoperative position and for preventing the action of the detaching member, for the purpose described.

17. In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or matrices, a reciprocating member to detach them individually from the line, distributing mechanism, a device to control the delivery of the detached type or matrices thereto, means controlled by an improper type or and means controlled by the operation of the removing means for preventing the action of the detaching member during the operation of said removing means.

19. In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or matrices, a reciprocating member to detach them individually from the line, distributing mechanism, means to control the delivery of the detached type or matrices to the distributing mechanism, means whereby an improper type or matrix renders said controlling means inactive, and means also controlled by said improper type or matrix to prevent the action of the detaching member While the controlling means are inactive.

20. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of the movable bridge F, the movable font-distingulsher E, and the latch E controlled thereby for holding the bridge F in its operative position.

21. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination of the lifting finger D formed with the shoulder D, the, movable font-distinguisher E, and the latch E controlled thereby and adapted to engage the shoulder D of the lifting finger and thus to prevent its upward movement.

22. In a mechanism of the class described,

the combination of the movable bridge F formed with transverse shoulders F and F the lifting finger D formed With corresponding shoulders D and D the movable fontdistinguisher E, and the latch E controlled thereby and arranged to engage normally beneath the shoulder F the said latch adapted to be disengaged from the shoulder by the movement of the font-distinguisher and simultaneously engaged with the shoulder D of the lifting finger D, the shoulder D of the latter being adapted to engage the shoulder F of the bridge F when the latter is tripped by the latch E, all for the purpose described.

23. In a typographical machine, the combination of a-group or line of type or matrices, distributlng mechanism for separating the type or matrices-according to character, means for delivering the type or matrices directly to the distributing mechanism, a feeler to detect the presence of a type or matrix improperly located in the line, and

a t matic matrix-removing means for conducting such improper type or matrix from the machine before it is delivered to the distributing mechanism.

2 In a typographical machine, the combination of a group or line of type or matrices, distributing mechanism, a reciprocating member to detach the type or matrices individually from the line, means to control the delivery of the detached type or mat- 10 rices to the distributing mechanism, and

' active.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT 0. BOARDMAN.

Witnesses:

MARTIN H. DYKs'rRA, LEONARD J. VERSEPUT. 

